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Gubernatorial appointees join board

May 8, 2014

Gubernatorial appointees join board

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State's Board of Trustees will welcome two new members to its ranks today (May 8), as the state Senate on April 9 approved gubernatorial nominees Cliff Benson and Todd Rucci. Rucci will serve until July 1, 2015, and until his successor is appointed and qualified. Benson will serve until July 1, 2016, and until his successor is appointed and qualified. They replace Ira Lubert and Alvin Clemens, whose terms have expired.

Benson is the chief development officer with the Buffalo Sabres, and was instrumental in the purchase of both the Sabres and the team’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, by Sabres owner Terry Pegula. Benson also was instrumental in facilitating Pegula’s $88 million donation to help launch a Division-I men’s ice hockey program at Penn State in 2011. A CPA and attorney, he served the Deloitte Tax LLP organization for 37 years, including 10 years as lead client service partner, retiring in May 2010.

A graduate of Penn State, Benson earned a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and a masters of law in taxation from NYU.

Rucci is a government and community relations officer with PAP Technologies. Previously he served as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, and before that he was the assistant vice president at Susquehanna Bank's Private Banking/Sports Division, where he helped professional athletes with banking services, investment management and estate planning and trusts.

A Penn State alumnus, Rucci was a right tackle on the University’s football team from 1989-1992. He also played eight seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots.